The summers are dry and sunny while the winters have significantly more rainfall. There are really no other seasons besides summer and winter.

With that said, more couples look to get married in the summer. There’s less risk of bad weather, but couples will likely pay more than those who book in the winter.

2. Have a Vision

Before you book a venue and your airplane tickets, decide on the season that’s ideal for you and your partner.

A few factors may influence your decision, the first being your budget. How much you’re willing to spend on your wedding will determine whether you get married in the summer or winter.

But your budget is not the only thing that matters. The type of ceremony and reception matters, as well.

First, decide if you want an indoor or outdoor ceremony. You could have a ceremony on the beach, up in the grassy hills, on a boat, or even in the gardens of a hotel.

Then, decide if you want an indoor or outdoor reception venue. We’ll explore how to choose the perfect venue in our next tip.

3. Book the Venue A.S.A.P

While Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on earth, it’s also one of the smallest. With all the islands put together, the state is only 10,931 square miles big.

In a single year, about 20,000 couples travel to these small islands to get married. This doesn’t include the number of natives who get married in Hawaii, either!

It’s a no-brainer to book your venue or vendor as soon as possible. There are only so many days in a season. And there are many other couples who will be looking to get married where you want to.

So, how do you choose the perfect wedding venue or vendor?

Browse around and explore your options. Do thorough research and don’t hesitate to take reviews into account.

Here are some things to consider when researching venues and vendors:

What does their availability look like?

Do they provide catering?

Do they provide outdoor tents and seating?

What other amenities do they offer?

Once you find a venue that has availability within your desired time frame, book it.

4. Make a Trip Before the Wedding

It’s harder to be physically involved in the planning for a destination wedding.

Consider making a trip where you meet with potential vendors before booking. It’s good to research beforehand to vet out your options.

But if your heart is set on a vendor or venue, you might as well book it. Still, you should at least book a trip to see it in person. That way, you can also plan out your decor, catering, entertainment, and flowers.

5. Notify Your Wedding Party

As soon as you get engaged, it’s important that you start to think about your Hawaiian wedding party.

Your wedding party needs the most notice of all. They’re not only going to have to pay for their airfare and lodging. They’ll also have to take other costs into account, such as:

Choose your wedding party and notify them as soon as possible so they can start planning and saving.

6. Give Your Guests Plenty of Notice

Once you have the venue booked, it’s time to make your “Save the Dates!”

However, compiling a guest list is a bit more complicated with destination weddings. First off, guest lists for destination weddings are usually smaller.

Rarely do couples invite more than 30 guests to attend their destination wedding. In fact, many couples only invite immediate family.

Think long and hard about who you want to invite to your Hawaiian wedding. Once you have a guest list, give them at least 6 months notice. The more notice, the better.

7. Dress for the Climate

Unless you’re having the reception in an air-conditioned hotel, it’s unlikely that you’ll be wearing a traditional gown or tuxedo.

The same goes for your wedding party. With a Hawaiian wedding, think light colors and short-sleeves.

But your attire isn’t the only thing to take into consideration. If you’re getting married in the summer, you may want to consider pulling your hair up or wearing sandals.

8. Focus on Flora

In Hawaii, you want to embrace the natural beauty of the land. The best way to do that is to focus on your flower scheme.

First, think long and hard about the venue’s setting. What colors are present, and how can you bring those colors out? What types of flowers and trees will surround you during the ceremony and reception?

Next, think about your wedding theme or color scheme (if you have one). Flowers may seem like a small detail, but they’re much more significant than you’d think. Think of flowers as the final touch to your destination wedding.